Seven Big Names Who Missed The Cut At The Valero Texas Open
Akshay Bhatia leads the Valero Texas Open, but a number of big names won't be featuring at the weekend
The final event before The Masters is well underway, with Akshay Bhatia firing rounds 63 and 70 to lead by five going into the weekend at the Valero Texas Open.
Going in search of a second PGA Tour title, Bhatia holds a comfortable advantage over the likes of Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood but, with 36 holes remaining, anything can happen at TPC San Antonio.
Although a number of big names remain in contention, quite a few players won't be featuring at the weekend as they failed to make the cut. These include the likes of Rickie Fowler and Tom Kim, who will now head to Augusta National to prepare for The Masters.
For much of the afternoon, the cut was around level-par, but due to some late scores being made, it moved to one-over. Below, we take a look at the notable players who didn't make the weekend.
Matt Kuchar (+3)
The PGA Tour veteran carded rounds of 73 and 74 to miss the cut by two in Texas. Kuchar had only made two cuts prior to the tournament, with the missed cut his seventh of the season.
Eric Cole (+4)
The 2022–23 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year made back-to-back 74s on Thursday and Friday to miss the cut by three strokes. Cole, who has one top 10 in 12 starts this year, made five bogeys and three birdies on Friday, as he missed his third cut of the season.
Rickie Fowler (+4)
Fowler had a lot of work to do following a four-over-par first round of 76, but the American could only shoot a level-par second round on Friday to miss the cut by four. He will now head to Augusta National and prep for The Masters, a tournament he hasn't featured in since 2020.
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Billy Horschel (+4)
Horschel needed to win the event to make it into The Masters next week, but the American could only card rounds of 75 and 73 to miss the cut by three strokes. It is his fourth missed cut of the year.
Ryan Fox (+5)
Fox had a day to forget on Friday, as a first round 70 was followed up by a second round 79. Beginning his Friday with back to back double bogeys, Fox did steady the ship, before a back nine of one birdie, four pars, two bogeys and a triple bogey meant he missed his fifth cut.
Tom Kim (+7)
The three-time PGA Tour winner missed just his second cut of 2024, with Kim carding rounds of 73 and 78 to miss the weekend by a handful of shots. Beginning his second day with three straight bogeys, Kim produced a double bogey on the ninth, with three further bogeys, meaning he will head to Augusta National early.
Joel Dahmen (+7)
Dahmen enjoyed an excellent finish at The Players Championship a few weeks ago, but has gone off the boil in the last fortnight as he missed a second consecutive cut in a row in Texas.
Matt joined Golf Monthly in February 2021 covering weekend news, before also transitioning to equipment and testing. After freelancing for Golf Monthly and The PGA for 18 months, he was offered a full-time position at the company in October 2022 and continues to cover weekend news and social media, as well as help look after Golf Monthly’s many buyers’ guides and equipment reviews.
Taking up the game when he was just seven years of age, Matt made it into his county squad just a year later and continues to play the game at a high standard, with a handicap of around 2-4. To date, his best round came in 2016, where he shot a six-under-par 66 having been seven-under through nine holes. He currently plays at Witney Lakes in Oxfordshire and his favourite player is Rory McIlroy, despite nearly being struck by his second shot at the 17th during the 2015 BMW PGA Championship.
Matt’s current What’s In The Bag?
Driver: Honma TW747, 8.75°
Fairway Wood: TaylorMade Rocketballz Stage 2, 15°, 19°
Hybrid: Adams Super Hybrid, 22°
Irons: Mizuno MP54, 5-PW
Wedges: Cleveland 588 RTX 2.0 Tour Satin, 50°, 56°, 60°
Putter: Cleveland TFI 2135 Satin Cero
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
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